Catherine was confused. She gave Branden a searching look. Branden’s handsome face revealed a hint of a smile. His lips
could not help but lift a bit. “I heard you are participating in the celebration gala selection.”
“Yes,” Catherine answered briefly.
“Can I watch it?” Branden looked earnestly at Catherine. It was one of the few times Branden used an interrogative sentence. He
was used to ordering people. His interrogative sentences were only for Catherine.
Catherine was okay with it. All teams would perform in public. Anyone could be in the audience, and so could Branden.
“It’s the early stage now. I’ll let you know when I make it to the final.”
The teams would audition during the qualifying match, and there might not be many qualified performances. Catherine thought it
unnecessary for Branden to watch her show at this stage, so she wanted him to be there after she was in the final.
Branden gazed at her with a mischievous smile in his bright eyes. Catherine caught it and walked half a step toward him. She
looked into his eyes, her brow raised. She asked lightly, stretching the words, “What? Don’t you think I can make it to the final?”
“You can make it.” Branden’s voice was full of certainty and zero doubt. Catherine suddenly wanted to tease him. “You have faith
in me?”
Again, Branden answered without any hesitation, “I do.”
It was only an activity at the school. The Duncan Corporation was the most influential honorary committee member, and the
president could help Catherine’s team skip to the final if Branden wanted.
Branden did not worry about the final at all. It all depended on whether Catherine wanted to be in it or not. “Liana, look! Is that
Branden, the head of the Duncans?”
Elena pointed at the school gate and spoke to Liana excitedly. Liana’s eyes lit up upon hearing Branden’s name. Her gaze
followed where Elena’s finger pointed, and it was indeed Branden..
Liana’s tired heart suddenly freshened up. She looked a lot more alive. Never had she thought that she would see Branden at
the school gate.
Elena said with a frown, “Liana, he’s with a girl. Who do you think she is? Her back is so familiar.”

Liana took a closer look, and her eyes widened in resentment. How could the girl’s back not be familiar?
It was none other than Catherine. Liana was too familiar with Catherine’s appearance. “The bitch wants to seduce Branden
again? Shame on her!” Liana thought.
Liana was very mad at Catherine. Branden looked at his wristwatch and realized the time was nearly up. He urged Catherine,
“Go in. Don’t forget to eat the food I brought you.”
He remembered that Catherine seemed to have problems with her stomach. Catherine looked down at the food container. She
could see the bread and omelet with steam through the glass lid.
Since Branden was quite thoughtful, Catherine nodded and said, “Got it. I should go.”
She then whirled around and left without looking back. Branden stood rooted to the spot and watched her leave. His eyes were
always cold. They only turned soft when he stared at Catherine’s back.
Elena finally knew who the girl was when Catherine turned around. She gaped at Catherine with her jaw dropped.
“Oh my. How can that be Catherine?”
Liana heard the name and was agitated. She stomped in fury.
“Can you not mention that name?”
Elena shut her mouth after Liana’s rare loss of temper. She remembered well that Liana had claimed only Branden deserved her.
Before Liana could approach Branden, Catherine was already flirting with him in front of them. No wonder Liana was furious.
Elena saw through what Liana was thinking. She wanted to cozy up to Liana, so she hurriedly comforted Liana.
“Liana, you don’t need to worry. We all know Catherine is a jinx. Even if she wins Branden’s heart with her filthy methods, it won’t
last long. A rich and powerful family like the Duncans will never accept her.”
The more Elena belittled Catherine, the better Liana’s mood became. Seeing Liana’s mood lighten, Elena continued, “Catherine
wants to be in the spotlight, right? We can go against her together and eliminate her in the audition.”
Fierceness flickered across Liana’s eyes, and she nodded firmly. The rules were simple. The Student Union and the audience
would appraise and elect the best performances from the auditions.

The Student Union had arranged 300 students as the audience to vote. The heads of Student Union departments would be the
judges.
Liana and Elena both happened to be the heads of Student Union departments. One was the head of the Publicity Department,
and the other was the head of the Liaison Department. They could eliminate Catherine during the auditions if they teamed up
and allied with other heads.
Catherine took the food container into the classroom. Ronin was about to hand her the breakfast he prepared when he noticed
what she was carrying.
The Duncans’ mark was on the container. Bryan arrived earlier than Catherine, so the food could not have come from Bryan.
Other than Bryan, the only person in the Duncans that would do this that Ronin could think of was the sly Branden.
Dissatisfaction rose in Ronin’s heart. He wanted to take the container away and replace it with his food. “Boss, I bought you
breakfast too. Take mine. Mine is warmer.”
While he talked, Catherine took the food out of the container. Hearing Ronin’s offer, she rejected subconsciously, “That’s fine. I
can heat this.”
Her words left Ronin with no hope. Ronin was heartbroken, feeling like someone had given his heart a blow. Bryan watched at
the side and tried to hold back his laughter. He recognized at a glance that the container belonged to his family. It had to be
Branden who did this.
Bryan thought Branden’s ploys of winning Catherine’s heart were cunning. When Bryan saw Ronin’s disappointed look, he was
satisfied.
Bryan never gained the upper hand during his fights against Ronin. Now that Branden won, as one of the Duncans, Bryan was
quite pleased.
Ronin knew there was nothing he could do since Catherine began to eat. He could only give up and report the day’s school news
to Catherine.
“Boss, the lessons in the afternoon will all be canceled for the audition. Many other teams asked for leave this morning. Do we
need to take leave to practice?”
Catherine had watched them play their parts, but the three had not rehearsed together.

“No. We’ll do it in the afternoon.”
“Okay, boss,” Ronin replied briskly. He loved Catherine for being so badass and confident. And Catherine had the strength to be
so.

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